Has there ever been a comprehensive study done comparing Canadian and American health CARE?

[Very_Boring_Name]

I'm not talking about access, I'm talking about actual care provided. The common line almost universally accepted is that yeah, Canadians have better access to treatment, but the treatment itself is better in America. I'm wondering whether or not there's any actual data on the subject.

On edit: I don't know why this is getting unrecced. I'm only asking because I am in a debate with a conservative about Canadian vs American healthcare (here, if anyone wants to follow the argument: http://truebluefreedom.com/index.php/topic,1002.0.html) and wanted some figures to back up my arguments

[glinda]

1. If you do find info I will bet it will say Canadian treatment is better also.

[Very_Boring_Name]

6. I agree with you

[gateley]

2. America has health CARE? As opposed to for-profit COVERAGE? Who knew? nt

[akbacchus_BC]

3. Our system is very good. Referrals to specialists take about 6-8 months

but overall, once you get seen, you do not pay. The only thing some of us are not covered for is eye exams and glasses. The system is great!

[akbacchus_BC]

4. I should have added that we have private care which is not accessible

to people who cannot afford it. That two tier system was established when Harper and Campbell came into power!

[Warren Stupidity]

5. yes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_the_health_care_systems_in_Canada_and_the_United_States

[Cleita]

7. There is a whole bunch of information on the Physicians

for a National Health Program http://www.pnhp.org/ There are articles upon articles in their Articles of Interest section and more information on their research section. Spend some time there and you will find the answers you are seeking.

Here is one article you might be interested in about the Canadian system:

http://pnhp.org/canadastudy/CanadaUSStudy.pdf

[RegieRocker]

8. Why does it have to be a comparison with Canadian Health

Care there are plenty more in the world that are better.

[Cleita]

9. Because they are closest to us with a workable system

we could study.

[RegieRocker]

10. Just because they are close has nothing to do with it.

There are better systems out there. Studies have already been done. Look them up.

[Cleita]

11. Yes, but we aren't getting a better system, we are

getting a worst system and frankly the Canadian system is one we could implement right now by extending an improved and comprehensive Medicare to everyone and that would be similar to the Canadian System and much better the the BS insurance law we were handed by Congress and the Obama administration last year. In comparison the Canadian system would be fantastic.

[RegieRocker]

12. I agree with you it would be better. I feel that we could make it

great.

[Cleita]

17. Here try this study on for size:

http://pnhp.org/canadastudy/CanadaUSStudy.pdf

[Very_Boring_Name]

13. I'm having a debate with a right winger, who is claiming that treatment in the US is superior

[eridani]

14. Not in terms out outcome n/t

[pampango]

15. Just talking with a Canadian last night. The only thing "superior" about American health care

is that the amount of money spent on it attracts doctors and researchers from all over. On the cutting edge of health care, the US sets a high standard. The huge trade-off is, obviously, that the other 99% of health care - treating the health needs of the middle and working classes on a daily basis - our system is a failure.

This Canadian had just had knee surgery a couple of months ago. While he was very happy with the quality of the surgery and care he received (he has good insurance, of course), but couldn't stop talking about the expense and paperwork of dealing with the American health care system.

I asked him why Canadians (his wife is Canadian, too) would move to the US (they both have green cards). He is French Canadian and left Quebec (he claims that many other left Quebec too) because he felt that the Parti Quebecois was trying to wall the province off from the rest of the country and world.

He first moved to Vancouver, met his wife there, then they moved to Phoenix and now to the Dayton, Ohio area. She is a college professor and he's an agronomist. He said they left Phoenix because his wife (whose parents immigrated to Canada from the Philippines) was being mistaken for Hispanic and didn't want to live there any more. Nothing dramatically bad had happened to her, but she didn't feel welcome. They've lived here for four month now and she doesn't feel the same subtle (in her case) hostility. While she had never lived in Quebec, the husband believed that Arizona was turning inward in a manner comparable to the way that the Quebecois had wanted to do in the past and had become unwelcoming to "outsiders".

He said that Americans don't understand how much lower taxes are here than in Canada, but he firmly believe that Canadians were happier with government because they believed that higher taxes they paid were a good investment in better government services.

[Cleita]

18. Sometimes Canadians will come here for treatment

when we have newer procedures than they do, but their health care pays for it. As for being superior, many Canadian doctors go to the same medical schools and do residency in the USA and vice versa, so I believe their training is pretty equal. I'm thinking of going to Canada for some procedure that Medicare doesn't cover here. Since I have to pay out of pocket, I find it will cost me a third less than here for the same treatment.

[B Calm]

16. I just ask Canadians if they would trade their Canadian Health Care for

an American Plan, and they have laughed every time I've asked. . .

[RegieRocker]

19. I have a new uncle that swears that canada health system is bad

Real bad. He is from canada and now has dual citizenship.